U.S. patent application number 15/444702 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-01 for light adjusting device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Yueqing Hongji Trade Co., Ltd. Invention is credited to Shaotong Zheng.
Application Number | 20180063921 15/444702 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58075134 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180063921 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zheng; Shaotong |
March 1, 2018 |
LIGHT ADJUSTING DEVICE
Abstract
A light adjusting device includes a housing, a light adjusting
assembly and a circuit switching mechanism. The circuit switching
mechanism is connected to the light adjusting assembly. The light
adjusting assembly can be in communication with a first circuit and
a second circuit respectively by means of the circuit switching
mechanism, so as to control light-emitting elements in the first
and second circuits by one light adjusting device.
Inventors: |
Zheng; Shaotong; (YUEQING,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yueqing Hongji Trade Co., Ltd |
Yueqing |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
58075134 |
Appl. No.: |
15/444702 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B 47/10 20200101;
H01C 10/16 20130101; H01C 10/10 20130101; H01H 23/24 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H05B 37/02 20060101
H05B037/02; H01H 23/12 20060101 H01H023/12; H01H 23/24 20060101
H01H023/24; H01C 10/10 20060101 H01C010/10; H01C 10/16 20060101
H01C010/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 31, 2016 |
CN |
201610787978.6 |
Claims
1. A light adjusting device, comprising a housing, a light
adjusting assembly and a circuit switching mechanism (10), wherein
the light adjusting assembly comprises: a potentiometer and an
operating structure which is connected to the potentiometer for
adjusting the potentiometer; the circuit switching mechanism (10)
is connected to the light adjusting assembly and comprises a rocker
(11), a spring (12) and an ejector rod (13), an actuating member
(14), a mounting seat (19), and a first side contact (16) and a
second side contact (18) which are respectively connected to a
first circuit and a second circuit; the actuating member (14) is an
arc-shaped structure having an opening facing the rocker (11), and
is pivotably provided on the mounting seat (19); a first movable
contact (15) and a second movable contact (17) are symmetrically
provided on both sides of the actuating member (14) with respect to
a rotation axis of the actuating member (14); the first side
contact (16) and the second side contact (18) are provided at the
mounting seat (19), corresponding to the first movable contact (15)
and the second movable contact (17); the rocker (11) is rotatably
provided at the mounting seat (19), and one end of the spring (12)
is fixedly mounted below the rocker (11) and the other end thereof
is connected to one end of the ejector rod (13), and the other end
of the ejector rod (13) abuts against the bottom of the opening of
the actuating member (14); and a button (3) configured to driving
the rocker (11) to rotate is provided on the housing, and the
button (3) configured to drive the actuating member (14) to rotate
in a forward direction via the rocker (11), the spring (12) and the
ejector rod (13) to communicate the first movable contact (15) with
the first side contact (16), the button (3) configured to drive the
actuating member (14) to rotate in a reverse direction to
communicate the second movable contact (17) with the second side
contact (18).
2. The light adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the
light adjusting assembly comprises a first potentiometer (7) and a
second potentiometer (9) connected in series, both of which are
linear slide potentiometers, and the operating structure is a first
push rod (6) and a second push rod (8) respectively mounted to
potentiometer handles of the first potentiometer (7) and the second
potentiometer (9).
3. The light adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the
first push rod (6) and the second push rod (8) are provided at side
positions of the rocker (11), with sliding directions thereof being
perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rocker (11).
4. The light adjusting device according to claim 3, wherein the
housing comprises a top cover (1) and a base (2) which is
detachably connected to the top cover (1); and a sliding groove (4)
is provided on the top cover (1) configured to allow the first push
rod (6) and the second push rod (8) to extend out of the
housing.
5. The light adjusting device according to claim 4, wherein the
light adjusting device further comprises a thyristor and a heat
dissipation plate (5) made of aluminium, the heat dissipation plate
(5) being connected to the thyristor; and the top cover (1) has an
elastic fastener which is detachably connected to the heat
dissipation plate (5), and the base (2) is connected to the heat
dissipation plate (5) via threaded connection members.
6. The light adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein a
circular hole for mounting the spring (12) is provided below the
rocker (11).
7. The light adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the
ejector rod (13) is of a cylindrical structure, one end of which
has a fitting portion which is fitted with the spring (12), and the
other end of which is an abutment portion which abuts against the
bottom of the opening of the actuating member (14), the abutment
portion being of a smooth curved protrusion structure.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The aspects of the disclosed embodiments relate to the field
of light-emitting element control devices, and in particular to a
light adjusting device, such as a dimmer.
[0002] The development of lighting technology has produced a
variety of lighting devices. The pursuit of the lighting devices is
transited from the appearance of the lamps to the lighting control
function of light adjusting equipment. A user can adjust the light
intensity of the lighting equipment according to different
environments, lighting conditions and personal preferences. The
demands for lighting equipment are not only the ability to switch
lights on and off, but also the ability to continuously adjust the
intensity of the light produced by such equipment, and to be able
to select or set an optimal lighting state.
[0003] One example of a light adjusting device is found in Chinese
patent publication No. CN201717166U. In this light adjusting
device, a rocker button is provided with a side plate on each of
two longitudinal sides. The side plate is provided with a groove at
the bottom end thereof. Two sides of the top end of the
double-control movable contact are embedded in the grooves. At the
bottom ends of the side plates on the rocker button, contacts are
provided on two transverse sides at the bottom end of the
double-control movable contact. A circuit board is provided with
two wiring contacts corresponding to the contacts on the two sides
at the bottom end of the double-control movable contact. The two
wiring contacts are respectively for controlling the switch on/off
of a power switch. A linkage member and the side plates oscillate
at the same time by controlling the rocker button, so as to control
the oscillation of the double-control movable contact, thereby
forcibly switching on or off the power switch. However, this light
adjusting device can only control the lighting equipment in a
single circuit connected thereto. This is not conducive to
multi-device centralized control.
[0004] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a light
adjusting device that addresses at least some of the problems
identified above.
SUMMARY
[0005] The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are directed
providing a light adjusting device that can control more than one
circuit.
[0006] In one embodiment, the light adjusting device comprises a
housing, a light adjusting assembly and a circuit switching
mechanism. The light adjusting assembly comprises a potentiometer
and an operating structure which is connected to the potentiometer
for adjusting the potentiometer. The circuit switching mechanism is
connected to the light adjusting assembly and comprises a rocker, a
spring and an ejector rod, an actuating member, a mounting seat,
and a first side contact and a second side contact which are
respectively connected to a first circuit and a second circuit.
[0007] The actuating member is of an arc-shaped structure having an
opening facing the rocker, and is pivotably provided on the
mounting seat. A first movable contact and a second movable contact
are symmetrically provided on both sides of the actuating member
with respect to a rotation axis of the actuating member. The first
side contact and the second side contact are provided at the
mounting seat corresponding to the first movable contact and the
second movable contact.
[0008] The rocker is rotatably provided at the mounting seat, and
one end of the spring is fixedly mounted below the rocker. The
other end thereof is connected to one end of the ejector rod, and
the other end of the ejector rod abuts against the bottom of the
opening of the actuating member. A button for driving the rocker to
rotate is provided on the housing, and the button drives the
actuating member to rotate in a forward direction via the rocker,
the spring and the ejector rod so as to communicate the first
movable contact with the first side contact, or to rotate in a
reverse direction so as to communicate the second movable contact
with the second side contact.
[0009] Optionally, the light adjusting assembly comprises a first
potentiometer and a second potentiometer connected in series, both
of which are linear slide potentiometers. The operating structure
is a first push rod and a second push rod respectively mounted to
potentiometer handles of the first potentiometer and the second
potentiometer.
[0010] Optionally, the first push rod and the second push rod are
provided at side positions of the rocker, with sliding directions
thereof being perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rocker.
[0011] Optionally, the housing comprises a top cover and a base
which is detachably connected to the top cover; and a sliding
groove is provided on the top cover, which allows the first push
rod and the second push rod to extend out of the housing.
[0012] Optionally, the light adjusting device further comprises a
thyristor and a heat dissipation plate made of aluminium, the heat
dissipation plate being connected to the thyristor; and the top
cover has an elastic fastener which is detachably connected to the
heat dissipation plate, and the base is connected to the heat
dissipation plate via threaded connection members.
[0013] Optionally, a circular hole for mounting the spring is
provided below the rocker.
[0014] Optionally, the ejector rod is of a cylindrical structure,
one end of which has a fitting portion which is fitted with the
spring, and the other end of which is an abutment portion which
abuts against the bottom of the opening of the actuating member,
the abutment portion being of a smooth curved protrusion
structure.
[0015] The technical solution of the disclosed embodiments has at
least the following advantage:
[0016] According to the light adjusting device provided in the
disclosed embodiments, the light adjusting assembly can be in
communication with the first circuit and the second circuit
respectively by means of the circuit switching mechanism, so as to
control light-emitting elements in the first and second circuits by
one light adjusting device. These and other aspects and advantages
of the exemplary embodiments will become apparent from the
following detailed description considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the
drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not
as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference
should be made to the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In the following detailed portion of the present disclosure,
the aspects of the disclosed embodiments will be explained in more
detail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the
drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram of a light adjusting device
according to aspects of the disclosed embodiments;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an assembly view of the light adjusting device
according to aspects of the disclosed embodiment; and
[0020] FIG. 3 is an assembly view of a circuit switching mechanism
for a light adjusting device according to the aspects of the
disclosed embodiments
[0021] These and other aspects and advantages of the exemplary
embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed
description considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are
designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a
definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference
should be made to the appended claims. Moreover, the drawings are
not necessarily drawn to scale and unless otherwise indicated, they
are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and
procedures described herein. In addition, any suitable size, shape
or type of elements or materials could be used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] As described herein, the exemplary embodiments overcome one
or more of the above or other disadvantages known in the art.
[0023] The technical solution of the present invention will be
clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, and obviously, the described embodiments are
part of, not all of, the embodiments of the present invention. On
the basis of the embodiment of the present invention, all other
embodiments obtained by a person skilled in the art without any
creative effort shall fall within the protection scope of the
present invention.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the light adjusting device 100 of
the disclosed embodiments comprises a housing 20, a light adjusting
assembly 30 and a circuit switching mechanism 10. The aspects of
the disclosed embodiments are configured to provide a light
adjusting assembly 30 that is configured to control multiple
lighting circuits. In one embodiment, the light adjusting device
100 comprises a dimmer or light dimming device.
[0025] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 20
comprises a base 2 and a top cover 1. The top cover 1 is detachably
provided on the base 2, meaning that it can be removed and
replaced. The base 2 is generally in the form of a square box
structure with an opening at the top thereof. The top cover 1 is
configured to cover the opening so as to form an accommodation
space together with the base 2. The housing 20 provides a
protection function for the parts of the light adjusting device
disposed within the accommodating space, and provides corresponding
mounting structures.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, the light adjusting assembly 30, which
in one embodiment comprises a dimming device, generally comprises a
first potentiometer 7 and a second potentiometer 9. In the example
of FIG. 2, the first potentiometer 7 and the second potentiometer 9
are connected in series with each other. In alternate embodiments,
the first potentiometer 7 and the second potentiometer 9 can be
electrically coupled in any suitable manner, other than including a
series connection. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the first
potentiometer 7 and the second potentiometer 9 are both linear
slide potentiometers.
[0027] The light adjusting assembly 30 further comprises a first
push rod 6 and a second push rod 8 which are provided corresponding
to the first potentiometer 7 and the second potentiometer 9,
respectively. The first push rod 6 and the second push rod 8 are
provided on, or connected to, control handles of the first
potentiometer 7 and the second potentiometer 9, respectively. The
first push rod 6 and the second push rod 8 extend out of the
housing 10 by means of a sliding groove 4, shown in FIG. 1, which
is provided on the top cover 1. The heat dissipation plate 5
includes a groove 24 to accommodate the first push rod 6 and the
second push rod 8.
[0028] The first push rod 6 and the second push rod 8 are the
operating structure for operating the potentiometers 7, 9. The
first push rod 6 and the second push rod 8 are provided at side
positions of the rocker 11. The resistance(s) of the first
potentiometer 7 and/or the second potentiometer 9 are changed by
sliding the first push rod 6 and/or the second push rod 8, that is
to say, the resistance of the circuit is changed so as to achieve
the light adjusting function. As an alternative embodiment, the
light adjusting assembly 20 may be provided with only one push rod,
which is fitted with both the first potentiometer 7 and the second
potentiometer 9.
[0029] It should be apparent that the linear slide potentiometers
7, 9 may be replaced by a rotary potentiometer, and accordingly,
the operating structure is a rotary member fitted with a rotary
handle of the rotary potentiometer.
[0030] The light adjusting assembly 20 in this technical solution
is provided with two potentiometers 7, 9, so that the light
adjusting range of the light adjusting assembly can be increased
and the adaptability is wider.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the circuit switching mechanism
10 comprises a rocker 11, a spring 12, an ejector rod or knock-out
pin 13, an actuating member or function key 14, and a mounting seat
19. As shown in FIG. 1, a button 3 is provided on the top cover 1.
The button 3 is rotatably provided on the top cover 1. The rocker
11 is fitted with the button 3, and is rotatably provided in the
mounting seat 19. A circular hole 22 is provided below the rocker
11, the spring 12 is provided in the circular hole 22, and the
ejector rod 13 is provided at the lower end of the spring 12.
[0032] The ejector rod 13 is of a cylindrical structure, one end of
which has a fitting portion 23 which is fitted with the spring 12,
and the other end of which has an abutment portion 25 which abuts
against the actuating member 14, the abutment portion 25 having a
smooth curved protrusion structure.
[0033] The actuating member 14 is of an arc-shaped structure having
an opening 26 facing the rocker 11, and is rotatably mounted to the
mounting seat 19. The abutment portion 25 of the ejector rod 13
abuts against the bottom end 27 of the opening 26 of the actuating
member 14.
[0034] A first movable contact 15 and a second movable contact 17
are symmetrically provided on the actuating member 14 with respect
to a rotation axis of the actuating member 14. The first side
terminal 31 and the second side terminal 33 are provided on the
mounting base 19 corresponding to the first movable contact 15 and
the second movable contact 17, respectively. A first side contact
16 is disposed in the first side terminal 31 and is configured to
make electrical contact with the first movable contact 15. A second
side contact 18 is disposed in the second side terminal 33 and is
configured to make electrical contact with the second movable
contact 17. A first electrical circuit and a second electrical
circuit (not shown) including light-emitting elements, such as one
or more light bulbs, are connected to the first side contact 16 and
the second side contact 18, respectively.
[0035] The button 3 drives the rocker 11 to rotate about its axis,
and drives the actuating member 14 to rotate about its own rotation
axis via the spring 12 and the ejector rod 13. The actuating member
14 rotates in a forward direction to communicate the first movable
contact 15 with the first side contact 16, so that the light
adjusting assembly 30 is connected to the first circuit. The light
adjusting assembly 30 can adjust the luminance of the
light-emitting element in the first circuit.
[0036] The actuating member 14 rotates in a reverse direction to
communicate the second movable contact 17 with the second side
contact 18, so that the light adjusting assembly is connected to
the second circuit. The light adjusting assembly 30 can adjust the
luminance of the light-emitting element in the second circuit.
[0037] It can be seen from the above description that the light
adjusting assembly 30 can be in communication with the first
circuit and the second circuit respectively by means of the circuit
switching mechanism 10, so as to control light-emitting elements in
the first and second circuits by one light adjusting device.
[0038] In this embodiment, the extending direction of the sliding
groove 4 and 14 is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rocker
11.
[0039] As a preferred embodiment, a surface of the first movable
contact 15 and the second movable contact 17 is provided with a
silver layer.
[0040] The circuit switching mechanism 10 is further provided with
a thyristor. The light adjusting device 100 further comprises a
heat dissipation plate 5 which is made of aluminum due to a large
amount of heat generated during the operation of the thyristor. The
heat dissipation plate 5 is connected to the thyristor. The top
cover 1 has an elastic fastener or clasp which is detachably
connected to the heat dissipation plate 5, and the base 2 is
connected to the heat dissipation plate 5 via threaded connection
members or fasteners.
[0041] Obviously, the embodiments as described above are merely
made for clarity of illustration and do not limit the
implementation manner. For a person skilled in the art, other
changes or variations may be also made on the basis of the
foregoing description. It is unnecessary and also impossible to
exhaustively describe all possible embodiments herein. Obvious
changes or variations derived therefrom are still within the
protection scope of the present invention. Thus, while there have
been shown, described and pointed out, fundamental novel features
of the invention as applied to the exemplary embodiments thereof,
it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and
changes in the form and details of devices illustrated, and in
their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, it is
expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or
method steps, which perform substantially the same function in
substantially the same way to achieve the same results, are within
the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that
structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or
described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of
the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or
described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of
design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only
as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *